Most Common Executive Struggles – Part 3
Research on vertical development has found that people can operate with different internal operating systems that vary in their cognitive and emotional sophistication.
Discussing Vertical Development with Alan Mulally
Over the last week, I was fortunate to spend over two hours across two phone calls with Alan Mulally, the former CEO at Boeing and Ford, and someone that Fortune identified as being #3 on the list of World’s Greatest Leaders. The focus of our conversation was about the importance of helping leaders vertically develop. […]
The Five Best Non-Fiction Business/Self-Help Books I Read in 2021
I have always loved reading because I have felt it make me a better person. Books make me a better person because they broaden my horizon, deepen my insights, and expose me to perspectives that are different from my own. In fact, as I have been writing a book on vertical development and helping organizations […]
Vertical Development Example #3: Microsoft CEOs
Have you ever wondered what sets apart great leaders from good leaders (or worse)? What we are learning is that the difference between great leaders and no-so-great leaders is how vertically developed they are. Or, stated differently, how cognitively and emotionally sophisticated they are. Many people do not yet know the concepts of “vertical development” […]
Vertical Development Example #2: Two Leaders of Musicians
Have you ever wondered what sets apart great people from not-so-great people? What developmental psychologists have found is that the difference between great people (people we admire) and no-so-great people (people we don’t necessarily admire) is how vertically developed they are. This is another way of assessing how cognitively and emotionally sophisticated they are. Unfortunately, […]
The Most Vertically Developed Leaders See Themselves as Gardeners
Any good gardener knows three things: The gardener cannot transform a seed into a tree The gardener can create the conditions for a seed to transform into a tree The more appropriate the conditions are for a given fruit-producing tree, the more fruit the tree will produce The best and most vertically developed leaders understand […]
Becoming a More Positive Influence: Create a Culture Committed to Greatness
Consider the following quote: (In fact, in the comments, let me know whether or not you agree with it and why.) For now, let’s take it at face value and assume that people and organizations are either committed to greatness, or by default, they are committed to mediocrity. Let’s apply this quote to your organization. […]
Becoming a More Positive Influence: Heal Thyself and Lead from Heart, not Hurt!
Learn what Brené Brown has to say about: 1. What prevents leaders from being more effective, 2. How it is critical for leaders to become more self-aware in order to become more effective, and 3. What is required of leaders to actually move the needle on their effectiveness.
Becoming a More Positive Influence: Show Appreciation
The difference between recognition and appreciation can mean the difference between being a weak positive influence and a strong positive influence on those you lead.
Becoming a More Positive Influence: Improve the Lenses You Use to See the World
How we see the situations we encounter shape our ability to be a positive influence, someone that others want to follow.